The city is talking to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about having the state agency take over the routes of the three striking Queens bus companies, Mayor Bloomberg said last night.

Because the week-long labor dispute is between private companies and their unions, the city cannot intervene, despite the $167 million it gives the companies in subsidies each year, Bloomberg said at a Town Hall meeting in Ozone Park, Queens.

Having the MTA take over the routes is one option, the mayor said. “Our intent is to get Queens as good transportation as we possibly can,” he said.